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On January 15, a coastal warning was released from the South African Navy website, announcing their scheduled ‘underwater explosive exercise’ in the vicinity of Seaforth, Simon’s Town, from January 22 to February 1. All vessels were urged to steer clear during this period.

This announcement sparked immediate concern among local residents and environmental activists, primarily due to apprehensions about the potential repercussions on marine life, notably the African penguin colony situated near Boulders Beach – so close to the exercise zone.

The lack of transparency and communication about the exercise’s nature and necessity has disappointed residents, who are worried about the possible harm to endangered marine wildlife.

The Navy has held rights to the demolition range, designated for its use over 60 years ago, where Navy divers receive training. Despite this history, the current exercise has raised questions among the local community.

A significant source of anxiety for residents centres around the anticipated impacts on the African penguins, considering the species’ vulnerable status, as it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on its Red Data list of threatened species.

The species is almost exclusive to South Africa and Namibia and is on the brink of extinction, facing a critically low population. A hundred years ago, the African penguin thrived with over a million breeding pairs, but today, the number has plummeted to less than 10,000. This current trend indicates that the little animals may potentially be functionally extinct by 2035, which basically means the species won’t be able to breed sufficiently to replenish and increase its numbers.

Commander Theo Mabina, acting senior staff officer of naval public relations, told Daily Maverick that these blasting exercises help train the Navy for some of their responsibilities, like clearing harbour entrances, underwater canals, beach landings, and any other underwater demolition jobs that may arise.

Mabina said that “at all times, the South African Navy should maintain a capable force ready to respond to any hostile circumstance, which could include economic sabotage situations in which sea mines are put in the country’s major ports, necessitating the use of navy divers. As a result, training and force preparation are critical components of members’ competency and certification. This is what the organisation has been doing since its inception, as required by the Constitution and Defence Act.”

However, the Navy was not transparent about whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) had been done, and whether there was the potential to harm the nearby African penguin colony and other marine life.

Jenny Cullinan, a resident of Simon’s Town, voiced concerns that these outdated practices do not adequately consider the evolving environmental conditions and the growing threats to marine life. She noted that the environment has changed drastically over the past 60 years with climate change, biodiversity loss, urbanisation, pollution and ocean changes.

“We can’t just carry on behaving as if the situation hasn’t changed. This behaviour needs to be adjusted… 60 years ago these demarcated areas were declared; what environmental studies were done then? And if they weren’t done, can we not ask for a review or for this to be done so that halting of this activity happens and an assessment is done?”

“The False Bay environment has lots of very special animals that live here… and we do need to protect what we have – not just protect, but fiercely protect. It’s a critical point in time on the planet, we can’t just carry on because it’s always been done for 60 years.”

Cullinan that the South African Navy needs to comply with South African law and environmental law, but says that “from my point of view, we’re looking at a government entity that seems to override the law. They do their own thing”.

The urgency to protect our oceans is intensifying as seismic blasting, oil drilling, ocean acidification due to rising CO2 levels, escalating temperatures, and rampant commercial fishing form only a glimpse of the imminent threats endangering aquatic life.

While locals are doing their best to hold the Navy accountable, the environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR) Cape Town is also leading the charge to protest the entities responsible for harming our already vulnerable coastal wildlife.

[source:dailymaverick]